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Characterization of bio-molecular surfaces and liquids by means of reference-free X-ray spectrometry
(2016)
An increasing field of application for X-ray spectrometry and related analysis techniques is the investigation of tailor made functional surfaces modified by organic molecules. For a detailed understanding and further development of such functionalized surfaces, a quantitative determination of the surface density of molecular species or even specific functional groups is required. By means of reference-free X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry such customized surfaces can be analyzed quantitatively, when using specific marker elements. A chemical analysis of molecular bonds can be accomplished by X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy in the Near-Edge region (NEXAFS). Especially in the soft X-ray range an access to relevant light elements like carbon C, nitrogen N and oxygen O is possible. Especially, the characterization of liquids and solid-liquid interfaces aiming at the determination of bio-molecular moieties (functional groups) is of great interest. The characterization of such systems requires the analysis of bio-molecules in their liquid environment. For the understanding of (biomolecular) reactions and binding processes the verification and quantification of biomolecule immobilization is essential. However, the analysis in the soft-X-ray range involves a higher experimental effort. In this contribution various successful applications of the characterizations of organofunctionalized surfaces, solid-liquid interfaces and liquids containing bio-molecular species by means of reference-free X-ray spectrometry will be presented. The experiments were performed at the plane-grating monochromator beamline (PGM-U49) in the soft X-ray range at the synchrotron radiation facility BESSY II. Using calibrated instrumentation and a quantification approach based on atomic fundamental parameters a quantitative access without any calibration sample or reference material is possible. In a complementary analysis by X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and fluorescence measurements based on laserexcitation in the optical light spectrum the functional-group density of silane monolayers were determined. Here, the nitrogen atoms of the head-group of the label molecule employed could be used as specific marker for the reference-free quantitative XRF analysis and is used for traceable calibration of XPS and fluorescence spectroscopy. Furthermore, a novel UHV-compatible liquid-cell developed to investigate liquids and solidliquid interfaces will be presented. Protein attachment at the solid-liquid interface was investigated by detection of the characteristic N1s→π*(O=C-N) amide bond resonance in the N K-edge NEXAFS by using ultra-thin epoxy-functionalized SiC-windows.
For versatile applications, including vacuum instrumentation, a liquid cell was developed. Using ultra-thin windows, this cell enables X-ray Absorption spectrometry in the soft X-ray range which is in particular interesting for the analysis of organic molecules in liquids or at the solid-liquid interface.
NEXAFS of a protein at N K-edge and of chlorophyll a at Mg K-edge is demonstrated.
A sealable ultrathin window sample cell for the study of liquids by means of soft X-ray spectroscopy
(2017)
A new sample cell concept for the analysis of liquids or solid-liquid interfaces using soft X-ray spectroscopy is presented, which enables the complete sealing of the cell as well as the Transport into vacuum via, for example, a load-lock system. The cell uses pressure monitoring and active as well as passive pressure regulation systems, thereby facilitating the full control over the pressure during filling, sealing, evacuation, and measurement. The cell design and sample preparation as well as the crucial sealing procedure are explained in detail. As a first proof-of-principle experiment, successful nitrogen K-edge fluorescence yield near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure experiments of a biomolecular solution are presented. For this purpose, it is shown that the careful evaluation of all involved parameters, such as window type or photon flux, is desirable for optimizing the experimental result.